Deflector for carding screens



Feb. 7, w67 L.. E, JOHNSON 3,302,248

DEFLECTOR FOR CARDING SCREENS Filed June 18, 1964 xNvENTon LLOYD EDWINJOHNSON AT T r United States Patent O 3,302,248 DEFLECTOR FOR CARDINGSCREENS Lloyd Edwin Johnson, Simpsonville, S.C., assgnor to John D.Hollingsworth, Greenville, S.C.

Filed .lune 18, 1964, Ser. No. 376,085 6 Claims. (Cl. 19-95) The presentinvention relates to carding machines for textile fibers which operateto comb the fibers and dispost the same in substantially parallel array,at the same time removing minute particles of dirt, foreign matter, etc.The invention has particular application to cotton cards which include ascreen on the underside of the card rolls t-o prevent the cotton fibersfrom flying outward and being lost (as waste) from the process.

In conventional cotton cards embodying carding screens, the screen isslotted to enable limited air flow therethrough so that only the trash,short waste fibers, and air y radially outward from the cylinder. It hasbeen found that considerable air is forced axially outward beyond theends of the screened rolls, i.e., the card lickerin and the cardcylinder. This axial flow of air carries fibers toward the ends of thelickerin and cylinder which causes the fibrous stock to build up at theend. As the fibrous stock accumulates at the ends` of the rolls, theselvages of the web treated by the card becomes uneven and rough,thereby creating a non-uniformity 4in the web doffed from the card. Ifsufficient fibrous stock builds up, the associated roll may actuallystall, and in any event,` the buildup creates substantial friction whichnot infrequently creates sufficient heat to ignite the fibrous stock.The heat generated ma)l cause the rolls to expand undesirably and toface or come into contact with each other or other parts of the card.Such contact creates wear and -tear on the card clothing and thesurrounding structure, necessitating premature replacement of theseparts. The accumulated fibrous stock at the ends of the rolls becomestightly packed or embedded between the ends of the rolls and thestationary parts of the card, which requires the carding machine to beshut down in order to remove the same. Stoppages of the carding machinecreate a loss in production as well as a waste of man hours.

Apart from the losses caused -by the accumulation of stock at the endsof the rolls, the air flowing outwardly beyond the ends of the rollscarries useful fibrous stock into the atmosphere surrounding the card,not only causing a waste of the stock itself, but also contaminating theatmosphere and creating health hazards and permitting fouling of theexposed operating mechanism of the carding machine.

With the foregoing in mind, the present invention provides a cardingmachine having means `associated with the card screen to substantiallyreduce and minimize the axially outward flow of air between the cardroll and its associated screen.

" More specifically, thepresent invention provides deflectors along themarginal edges of the card screen to counteract the axial flow of airVbetween the screens and the associated card roll.

In the preferred embodiment of the present invention, a deector elementis disposed in the clearance space between the screen andthe associatedroll, which element is of substantially uniforml or varying thicknessthroughout and tapers in width along the marginal portion of the screenso as to provide an air-deecting surface disposed at an angle to theouter edge of the screen and inclined inwardly in the direction ofrotation of the roll, to thereby deflect the air inwardly in themarginal area of the screen intermediate the screen and the associatedroll.

All of the objects Iof the present invention are more fully set forthhereinafter with reference to the accompanying drawings wherein:

FIG. 1 is a diagrammatic view in side elevation of a carding machine forcarding a web of cotton fibrous material .and embodying a deector madein accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged view in side elevation of the leading end of thecard screen as encircled at 2 in FIG. l;

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary plan view of the portion of the card screenshown in FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is an enlarged fragmentary view in side elevation of the trailingportion of the card screen encircled at 4 in FIG. l;

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary plan view of the portion of the card screenshown in FIG. 4;

FIG. 6 is a development of the card screen, as taken on the line 6 6 ofFIG. l with the central portion of the screen broken away;

FIG. 7 is an enlarged view of the lickerin screen shown in FIG. l; and

FIG. 8 is a fragmentary plan view of the lickerin screen shown in FIG.7.

Referring now to the drawings, and more particularly to FIG. 1, theinvention is illustrated, as applied to a conventional cotton cardingmachine of the revolving fiat type, although the invention is equallyapplicable to carding machines with other carding elements such as theconventional workers and strippers. In the machine illustrated in FIG.l,l the fibrous material is fed to the carding machine in the form of alap 10 fr-om a. lap roll 21 along a feed plate 22. The lap 10 is carriedfrom the feed plate 22 by a first carding roll or lickerin 23 whichdeposits the lap onto a second carding roll, i.e., the main cylinder 24.In the present instance, the lickerin 23 revolves clockwise whereas thecylinder 24 revolves counterclockwise. The fibrous material from thelickerin 23 is carried about by rotation of the main cylinder 24 intoconfronting engagement with the revolving flats 25 which are carriedalong the main cylinder'in the same direction as the direction ofrotation as the cylinder, but at a slower speed. The revolving flats 25cooperate with the card clothing on the cylinder 24 t-o comb the fibersand dispose the same in substantially parallel array, at the same timeloosening minute particles of dirt and foreign matter. A transfer actionoccurs between the card clothing on the lickerin 23 and the maincylinder 24 inasmuch as the cylinder surface speed may be up to twicethe surface speed of the lickerin.

A third carding roll or dofer 27 having card clothing thereon confrontsthe main cylinder 24 to strip a major portion of the fibrous materialfrom the main cylinder in the form of `a carded web 11 `and c-arry it tosuitable webremoving means, in the present instance a doffer comb 28which strips the web 11 from the doffer from which the web is condensed,for example through trumpets and calender rolls 29, into sliver form 12for subsequent spinning operations. Suitable plates 31 and 32respectively are positioned about the lm-ain cylinder 24 in the areasbetween the revolving flats 25 and the lickerin 23 and doffer 27respectively. The plates 61 and 32 are conventionally imperforate andserve to maintain the fibrous web in engagement with the card clothingon the main cylinder 24. Covers on the lickerin and dolfer respectivelyserve a similar function. The fibrous material that is not transferredfrom one carding roll to the next is carried around by the one roll andblended with the additional fibrous material transferred thereto.

-Underlying certain carding rolls, for example the lickerin 23 and themain cylinder 24, are card screens 33 and 34. The screens comprise thinsheets of metal or the like extending the full axial length of theassociated roll and conforming in curvature to the curvature of the rollsurface so as to be disposed in closely spaced relation thereto withlimited clearance from the teeth of the card clothing on the rolls. Thescreens are provided with slots extending along the length of theassociated roll which permit limited air iiow therethrough so that onlythe trash, short waste bers and air fly radially outward from thecylinder, the useful fibrous stock being retained by the screen. lIt hasbeen found, however, that the rapidly revolving card rolls create asubstantial air flow in the clearance space between the screen and theclothing and in conventional arrangements, a substantial portion of thisair iiow is discharged axially of the roll into the surroundingatmosphere, carrying with it a considerable amount of useful stock, andlodging the stock at the ends of the rolls, causing the deciencies notedabove.

In accordance with the invention, means is provided to deflect the airflow intermediate the screen and the card clothing so as to direct itaxially inward of the card roll, thereby reducing the outward migrationof the fibrous material or stock in the clearance between the clothingand the screen. As shown in FIGS. l, 8, and 7, the lickerin screen 33 ismounted, for example by a bracket 35 so that its slotted body portion 37circumscribes the unders-urface of the lickerin 23. A deflector strip 39overlies each of the marginal edges of the body portion 37 of the screen33. The strip is of a thickness corresponding substantially to theclearance distance between the screen body 37 and the teeth of the cardclothing on the lickerin 23. The deflector strip 39 tapers in width soas to provide an inwardly directed edge 41 which inclines inwardly inthe direction of rotation of the confronting surface of the lickerin 23.The edge 41 therefore provides a deiiecting surface which operates uponrotation of the lickerin to counteract the tendency of the air in theclearance between the lickerin and the screen to flow axially outward ofthe lickerin. This counteraction of the outward flow preventssubst-antial buildup of fibrous material at the marginal edge of thelickerin and therefore avoids or reduces the problems occasioned inconventional screened carding machines. As an example, it has been foundthat the strip 39 may have a thickness of 0.025 inch throughout and -maytaper from a width of 1/16 inch adjacent the plate 22 to a width of 1inch adjacent the rnain cylinder 24. With a surface speed of thelickerin of approximately 2000 feet per minute, it has been found thatan inclined edge 4l of this character operates to prevent subst-antialbuildup of the fibrous stock in the clothing at the marginal edge of thelickerin.

The screen -34 of the main cylinder 24 extends from the dolier roll 27to the lickerin 23. As shown in FIGS. l to 6 inclusive, the screen isymounted on the card by a suitable bracket 36 to dispose its slottedbody .portion 38 in close confronting relation to the clothing of themain cylinder 24 with limited clearance therebetween. A deflector strip40 overlies each marginal edge of the slotted body portion 38 of thescreen and is of a thickness corresponding substantially to theclearance space between the body portion 38 and the clothing on the maincylinder. The deflector strip `40, as shown in FIG. 6, tapers in widthto provide an edge 42 adjacent each side of the screen 34 which isinclined inwardly in the direction of tr-avel of the confronting surfaceof the card cylinder 24. As an example, it has been found that the strip40 may have a thickness of 0.125 inch adjacent the doffer, reducinggradually to 0.025 inch at the center and may continue with a thicknessof 0.025 to the lickerin. yIn a typical installation, the stripthickness is approximately 2/3 the clearance space between the body ofthe screen and the tip of the clothing. The width may taper from 1/16inch adjacent the doffer to 1 inch adjacent the lickerin. A strip ofthis character, with a card cylinder having a surface speed of 3000 to4000 feet per minute counteracts the axially outward liow of air fromthe cylinder so as to substantially reduce the buildup of fibrous stockat the ends of the main cylinder.

Thus, in a car-ding machine having deflecting means according to thepresent invention, the useful fibrous stock is substantially retardedfrom flowing outwardly beyond the card rolls and is prevented fromaccumulating in the marginal area of the card rolls so as to avoidexcessive friction and consequent heat, rough edges in the selvage ofthe carded web, loss of useful stock and contamination of thesurrounding atmosphere, etc.

While a particular embodiment of the present invention has been hereinillustrated and described, it is not intended tov limit the invention tosuch disclosure, but changes and modifications may be made therein andthereto within the scope of the following claims.

I claim:

1. In a carding machine having at least one rotary card roll with cardclothing thereon, and a screen circumscribing said roll about a portionof its circumference, Said screen having a curvature corresponding tothe curvature of the clothed surface of said roll and mounted thereaboutwith limited clearance between the clothing and said screen 4to providea clearance space, said screen being provided with means for enablinglimited air flow therethrough so that only trash, short waste fibers andair fly radially outward from said roll, said screen extendingsubstantially the full axial length of the clothing on said roll;

a deflector mounted intermediate said screen and said clothing adjacenteach marginal edge of said screen, each said deiiector providing adeiiecting surface extending circumferentially of said roll within saidclearance space and inclined .axially inwardly of said screen and cardroll in the direction of travel of the clothing relative to said screento thereby counteract the flow of air axially outward from saidclearance space between said screen and said carding roll.

2. A carding machine according to claim 1, wherein each said deflectorcomprises a strip of a thickness corresponding substantially to theclearance distance between said screen and the clothing on said roll,said strip being mounted on said screen overlying the marginal portionthereof, and tapering in width to provide said inwardly-inclineddeflecting surface.

3. A carding machine according to claim 2 wherein the thickness of saids-trip is substantially 2/3 the clearance distance between the screenand the clothing.

`4. In a carding machine having rotary card rolls with card clothingthereon including a lickerin, a main cylinder and a doifer, and screenscircumscribing portions of the circumference of the lickerin and maincylinder respectively, each screen having a curvature corresponding tothe curvature of the clothed surface of the associated roll and mountedthereabout with limited clearance between the clothing and the screen toprovide a clearance space, each screen being slotted to enable limitedair ow radially therethrough and extending substantially the full axiallength of the clothing on the associated roll;

deiiector means for each screen mounted intermediate said screen andsaid clothing on the associated roll adjacent opposite marginal edges ofsaid screen, said deiiector means providing adjacent each marginal edgeof said screen a deflecting surface extending circumferentially of saidroll within said clearance space nd inclined axially inward of saidscreen and card roll in the direction of travel of the clothing relativeto`- the screen operable upon rotation of said roll to 6 counteract theow of air axially outward from said 6. A carding Imachine according toclaim S wherein clearance space between said screen and said card saidstrip thickness is substantially 26 the clearance disroll. tance betweenthe screen and the clothing.

5. A carding machine according to claim 4 wherein each of said dellectormeans comprises a pair of strips of a 5 References Cited by the Examinerthickness corresponding substantially to the clearance dis- UNITEDSTATES PATENTS tance between said screen and said clothing on said roll,33,744 11/1861 Kimball 19 95 each strip of said -p-air of strips beingmounted on said screen overlying one of the marginal portions thereofMERVIN STEIN Primary Examiner and tapering in width to provide saidinwardly-inclined lo deecting surface. -DORSEY NEWTON, Examiner.

1. IN A CARDING MACHINE HAVING AT LEAST ONE ROTARY CARD ROLL WITH CARDCLOTHING THEREON, AND A SCREEN CIRCUMSCRIBING SAID ROLL ABOUT A PORTIONOF ITS CIRCUMFERENCE, SAID SCREEN HAVING A CURVATURE CORRESPONDING TOTHE CURVATURE OF THE CLOTHED SURFACE OF SAID ROLL AND MOUNTED THEREABOUTWITH LIMITED CLEARANCE BETWEEN THE CLOTHING AND SAID SCREEN TO PROVIDE ACLEARANCE SPACE, SAID SCREEN BEING PROVIDED WITH MEANS FOR ENABLINGLIMITED AIR FLOW THERETHROUGH SO THAT ONLY TRASH, SHORT WASTE FIBERS ANDAIR FLY RADIALLY OUTWARD FROM SAID ROLL, SAID SCREEN EXTENDINGSUBSTANTIALLY THE FULL AXIAL LENGTH OF THE CLOTHING ON SAID ROLL; ADEFLECTOR MOUNTED INTERMEDIATE SAID SCREEN AND SAID CLOTHING ADJACENTEACH MARGINAL EDGE OF SAID SCREEN, EACH SAID DEFLECTOR PROVIDING ADEFLECTING SURFACE EXTENDING CIRCUMFERENTIALLY OF SAID ROLL WITHIN SAIDCLEARANCE SPACE AND INCLINED AXIALLY INWARDLY OF SAID